How to Maintain and Service Your Petrol Lawnmower Correctly

Below the video, we have a step by step guide on how to maintain a petrol lawnmower in easy steps.

Petrol lawnmowers take a serious beating, especially if used for professional use, yet they are easy to neglect most often, perhaps until something breaks or you have trouble getting the engine to start which is the usually the first problem that arises from not servicing your mower correctly. Proper lawn mower maintenance can let you get the most out of your lawn mower and keep it performing for many years. You don’t need to be a mechanic to service your lawn mower; follow the following tips to maintain your lawn mower will keep it in tip-top shape and ensure your mower starts every time.

Below is a good video on how to maintain a petrol lawnmower

Read the owner’s manual & Check warranty information

A very important step especially when dealing with intricate machines such as petrol lawn mowers. The owner’s manual informs the best way to maintain your lawn mower as intended by the manufacturer. Most people skip this simple step but they often have the essential, yet basic maintenance information in them. Most petrol lawnmowers needed to be properly maintained to keep the warranty valid, some manufacturers insist you send it to be serviced once a year by a professional company while many manufacturers are happy for you to maintain your own mower if you know how and are competent.

Drain the petrol at the end of each season

Lawnmower experts claim that old petrol is a major culprit when the machine won’t start and they’re probably right. Therefore, make sure to drain the remaining petrol out of the machine at the end of every mowing season and always use fresh petrol in the next season. It may be easier to use the mower until the fuel runs dry to make things easier.

Check oil level and keep it topped up

Your mower should have the right amount of oil as indicated by your mower’s dipstick. Look for signs of oil contamination such as floating debris or degrading oil – oil that looks charcoal black. Contaminated or old oil should be drained out and replaced by the manufactures recommend new oil.

To drain the oil, remove the drain plug (if your mower has one) and let it drain to the last bit. If your lawn mower doesn’t feature a drain plug, remove the filler plug, carefully tilt the machine to one side, and drain used oil via the fill hole. Another way to drain your mower is by using a syphoning syringe. Remove the dipstick, stick the syringe to the bottom of the oil tank, and pull it up to draw oil from the mower.

Keep in mind that lawn mowers require specific oil type and again this is where the user manual becomes a point of reference. Only 4 stroke petrol mowers have a separate oil tank as 2-stroke mowers have the oil mixed with the fuel so this step can be missed.

Clean under the mower deck and always disconnect the spark plug first

Grass build-up in the undercarriage is inevitable. If left unattended, grass can clog the lawnmower’s discharge chute and affect normal operation. Scrape grass clippings and soil from the undercarriage using a wire brush and spray away any stubborn residue with a garden hose, some mowers even have an attachment where you can connect a hose to rinse the under the mower deck. Actually, this should be part of your regular mower maintenance. Cleaning the undercarriage after every service can prevent any onset of rust on steel parts

When cleaning the undercarriage, be sure to keep the air filter facing upwards so that dirt and oil don’t pour into it. In addition, always disconnect the spark plug before cleaning the undercarriage. There’s a chance you could start the engine up and have the blade spinning, which is obviously very dangerous. just simply unclick the coil from the spark plug which will simply pull off.

Check and clean the air filter

The air filter stops any dirt or debris from reaching the carburettor and mower’s engine, so this vital component should never be overlooked and they are very easy to remove and clean so there no excuses. Air filters need swapping each year and that shouldn’t be a problem because they come cheap. The area holding the filter is easily accessible and should be cleaned as well at the time of replacement. Replacing the air filter ensures optimal performance throughout the life of the mower. Some air filters can simply be cleaned with soapy water instead of replacing them.

Inspect the spark plug to keep it starting first time

A clean spark plug ensures quick starting, smooth running and prevents stalling and overheating. The spark plug is also an inexpensive component and would ideally be replaced yearly. Remove the spark plug with a socket wrench and install a new plug without tightening it too much. An overly tight plug could prevent the mower from starting and course issues when trying to remove it later. Add some oil around the thread of the plug for easy removal next time.

Briggs and Stratton have a good guide on cleaning a spark plug which you can read here

Sharpen the blade to ensure the best cut possible

The blade is the most worked part of the mower. It undergoes a great deal of stress from rocks and hard branches. A dull blade should be removed and sharpened or even replaced. To remove the blade, on most mowers simply undo the centre bolt and safely pull the blade off. Make sure to wear heavy-duty gloves before handling the blade. You can sharpen the blade with a vice and metal file or use the service of your local mower shop for a small fee.

That’s it. Once you’ve done these steps, your mower is ready for another season. A professional tune-up once a while is also worth it for precise diagnostic tests to check the engine over in more detail. However, with basic maintenance as described above, this may probably not even need doing

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